asses

ass·es

1 [as-iz]
noun
plural of ass1.
Dictionary.com Unabridged

as·ses

2 [as-iz]
noun
plural of as2.
00:10
Asses is always a great word to know.
So is callithumpian. Does it mean:
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes.

ass

1 [as]
noun
1.
a long-eared, slow, patient, sure-footed domesticated mammal, Equus asinus, related to the horse, used chiefly as a beast of burden.
2.
any wild species of the genus Equus, as the onager.
3.
a stupid, foolish, or stubborn person.

Origin:
before 1000; Middle English asse, Old English assa, probably hypocoristic form based on Old Irish asan < Latin asinus; akin to Greek ónos ass

ass·like, adjective

asse

[as]
noun

as

2 [as]
noun, plural as·ses [as-iz] .
1.
a copper coin and early monetary unit of ancient Rome, originally having a nominal weight of a pound of 12 ounces: discontinued c80 b.c.
2.
a unit of weight equal to 12 ounces.

Origin:
1595–1605; < Latin

ass

2 [as]
noun Vulgar.
1.
the buttocks.
2.
the rectum.
3.
Slang. sexual intercourse.

Origin:
before 1000; var of arse, with loss of r before s, as in passel, cuss, etc.; Middle English ars, er(e)s, Old English ærs, ears; cognate with Old Frisian ers, Dutch aars, Old Norse, Middle Low German, Old Saxon, Old High German ars (German Arsch), Greek órrhos, Armenian or̄kh, Hittite arras; akin to Greek ourā́, Old Irish err tail

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source Link To Asses
Collins
World English Dictionary
arse or (US), (Canadian) ass (ɑːs, ˈɑːsˌhəʊl) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  the buttocks
2.  the anus
3.  a stupid person; fool
4.  sexual intercourse
5.  (Austral) effrontery; cheek
6.  get one's arse into gear to start to do something seriously and quickly
 
usage  Dating back at least a thousand years, and taboo till around the middle of the 20th century, this venerable ``Anglo-Saxon'' word now seems unlikely to cause offence in all but the most formal contexts. Its acceptability has possibly been helped by such useful verb formations as ``to arse about'' and ``I can't be arsed''
 
ass or (US), (Canadian) ass
 
n
 
usage  Dating back at least a thousand years, and taboo till around the middle of the 20th century, this venerable ``Anglo-Saxon'' word now seems unlikely to cause offence in all but the most formal contexts. Its acceptability has possibly been helped by such useful verb formations as ``to arse about'' and ``I can't be arsed''

as1 (æz, (unstressed) əz) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
conj
1.  (often preceded by just) while; when; at the time that: he caught me as I was leaving
2.  in the way that: dancing as only she can
3.  that which; what: I did as I was told
4.  (of) which fact, event, etc (referring to the previous statement): to become wise, as we all know, is not easy
5.  as it were in a way; so to speak; as if it were really so
6.  as you were
 a.  a military command to withdraw an order, return to the previous position, etc
 b.  a statement to withdraw something just said
7.  since; seeing that: as you're in charge here, you'd better tell me where to wait
8.  in the same way that: he died of cancer, as his father had done
9.  in spite of the extent to which: intelligent as you are, I suspect you will fail
10.  for instance: capital cities, as London
 
adv, —conj
11.  a.  used correlatively before an adjective or adverb and before a noun phrase or a clause to indicate identity of extent, amount, etc: she is as heavy as her sister; she is as heavy now as she used to be
 b.  used with this sense after a noun phrase introduced by the same: she is the same height as her sister
 
prep
12.  in the role of; being: as his friend, I am probably biased
13.  as for, as to with reference to: as for my past, I'm not telling you anything
14.  formal as from, as of (in expressions of time) from: fares on all routes will rise as from January 11
15.  as if, as though as it would be if: he talked as if he knew all about it
16.  as is, as it is in the existing state of affairs: as it is, I shall have difficulty finishing all this work, without any more
17.  as per See per
18.  as regards See regard
19.  as such See such
20.  such as See such
21.  as was in a previous state
22.  as well See well
23.  as yet up to now; so far: I have received no compensation as yet
 

as2 (æs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  an ancient Roman unit of weight approximately equal to 1 pound troy (373 grams)
2.  the standard monetary unit and copper coin of ancient Rome
 
[C17: from Latin ās unity, probably of Etruscan origin]

as3
 
the internet domain name for
American Samoa

As
 
symbol for
1.  chem arsenic
2.  altostratus

AS
 
abbreviation for
1.  Also: A.S. Anglo-Saxon
2.  antisubmarine
3.  Australian Standards

ass1 (æs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  either of two perissodactyl mammals of the horse family (Equidae), Equus asinus (African wild ass) or E. hemionus (Asiatic wild ass). They are hardy and sure-footed, having longer ears than the horseRelated: asinine
2.  (not in technical use) the domesticated variety of the African wild ass; donkey
3.  a foolish or ridiculously pompous person
4.  informal (Irish) not within an ass's roar of not close to obtaining, winning, etc: she wasn't within an ass's roar of it
 
Related: asinine
 
[Old English assa, probably from Old Irish asan, from Latin asinus; related to Greek onos ass]

ass2 (æs) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
n
1.  slang chiefly (US), (Canadian) the buttocks
2.  slang chiefly (US), (Canadian) the anus
3.  offensive, slang chiefly (US), (Canadian) sexual intercourse or a woman considered sexually (esp in the phrase piece of ass)
4.  slang chiefly (US), (Canadian) cover one's ass to take such action as one considers necessary to avoid censure, ridicule, etc at a later time
 
[Old English ærs; see arse]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History

as
late 12c., worn-down form of O.E. alswa "quite so" (see also). Equivalent to so; any distinction in use is purely idiomatic. Related to Ger. als "as, than." Phrase as well "just as much" is recorded from late 15c.; the phrase also can imply "as well as not," "as well as anything
else." Interjection of incredulity as if! is attested from 1995.

ass
beast of burden, O.E. assa (Old Northumbrian assal, assald), prob. from O.Celt. *as(s)in "donkey," which (with Ger. esel, Goth. asilus, Lith. asilas, O.C.S. osl) is ultimately from L. asinus, probably of Middle Eastern origin (cf. Sumerian ansu). Since ancient Gk. times, in fables and parables, the animal
typifies clumsiness and stupidity (hence asshead, 1540s, etc.). To make an ass of oneself is from 1580s. Asses' Bridge (c.1780), from L. Pons Asinorum, is fifth proposition of first book of Euclid's "Elements."

ass
slang for "backside," first attested 1860 in nautical slang, in popular use from 1930; chiefly U.S.; from dial. variant pronunciation of arse (q.v.). The loss of -r- before -s- attested in several other words (e.g. burst/bust, curse/cuss, horse/hoss, barse/bass). Indirect evidence
of the change from arse to ass can be traced to 1785 (in euphemistic avoidance of ass "donkey" by polite speakers) and perhaps to Shakespeare, if Nick Bottom transformed into a donkey in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1594) is the word-play some think it is. Meaning "woman regarded as a sexual object" is from 1942.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

As
The symbol for the element arsenic.

AS abbr.
Latin auris sinistra (left ear)

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
A  
Abbreviation of adenine, ampere, angstrom, area
arsenic   (är'sə-nĭk)  Pronunciation Key 
Symbol As
A metalloid element most commonly occurring as a gray crystal, but also found as a yellow crystal and in other forms. Arsenic and its compounds are highly poisonous and are used to make insecticides, weed killers, and various alloys. Atomic number 33; atomic weight 74.922; valence 3, 5. Gray arsenic melts at 817°C (at 28 atm pressure), sublimes at 613°C, and has a specific gravity of 5.73. See Periodic Table.
As  
The symbol for arsenic.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Slang Dictionary

ass definition


  1. n.
    the buttocks. (Usually objectionable.) : This big monster of a guy threatened to kick me in the ass if I didn't get out of the way.
  2. n.
    women considered as sexual gratification. (Rude and derogatory.) : All he could think about was getting some ass.
  3. n.
    one's whole body; oneself. (Usually objectionable.) : Your ass is really in trouble!
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Abbreviations & Acronyms
as
Assamese
As
arsenic
AS
  1. air speed

  2. American Samoa

  3. Anglo-Saxon

  4. antisubmarine

  5. Associate in Science

The American Heritage® Abbreviations Dictionary, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Easton
Bible Dictionary

Ass definition


frequently mentioned throughout Scripture. Of the domesticated species we read of, (1.) The she ass (Heb. 'athon), so named from its slowness (Gen. 12:16; 45:23; Num. 22:23; 1 Sam. 9:3). (2.) The male ass (Heb. hamor), the common working ass of Western Asia, so called from its red colour. Issachar is compared to a strong ass (Gen. 49:14). It was forbidden to yoke together an ass and an ox in the plough (Deut. 22:10). (3.) The ass's colt (Heb. 'air), mentioned Judg. 10:4; 12:14. It is rendered "foal" in Gen. 32:15; 49:11. (Comp. Job 11:12; Isa. 30:6.) The ass is an unclean animal, because it does not chew the cud (Lev. 11:26. Comp. 2 Kings 6:25). Asses constituted a considerable portion of wealth in ancient times (Gen. 12:16; 30:43; 1 Chr. 27:30; Job 1:3; 42:12). They were noted for their spirit and their attachment to their master (Isa. 1:3). They are frequently spoken of as having been ridden upon, as by Abraham (Gen. 22:3), Balaam (Num. 22:21), the disobedient prophet (1 Kings 13:23), the family of Abdon the judge, seventy in number (Judg. 12:14), Zipporah (Ex. 4:20), the Shunammite (1 Sam. 25:30), etc. Zechariah (9:9) predicted our Lord's triumphal entrance into Jerusalem, "riding upon an ass, and upon a colt," etc. (Matt. 21:5, R.V.). Of wild asses two species are noticed, (1) that called in Hebrew _'arod_, mentioned Job 39:5 and Dan. 5:21, noted for its swiftness; and (2) that called _pe're_, the wild ass of Asia (Job 39:6-8; 6:5; 11:12; Isa. 32:14; Jer. 2:24; 14:6, etc.). The wild ass was distinguished for its fleetness and its extreme shyness. In allusion to his mode of life, Ishmael is likened to a wild ass (Gen. 16:12. Here the word is simply rendered "wild" in the Authorized Version, but in the Revised Version, "wild-ass among men").

Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary
Cite This Source
Copyright © 2013 Dictionary.com, LLC. All rights reserved.
  • Please Login or Sign Up to use the Recent Searches feature
FAVORITES
RECENT